Planting potatoes and caring for them is a laborious and sometimes thankless task. After all, not every variety has a good yield. Unlike Picasso potatoes. This variety guarantees large volumes of mature root crops subject to the rules of watering, feeding and hilling, as well as careful selection of planting material.
Grade history
Picasso potatoes are selected in Holland by AGRICO U.A. Since 1995, it has been included in the State Register of Varieties of Russia. These potatoes are planted and cultivated mainly in the central regions of the country.
The variety has a local name - "Limonka".
Picasso Potato Variety Description
Picasso is a late ripe table potato. Its main feature is high yield and original appearance.
Bushes
Picasso shoots of medium height, dark green. Leaves are large, spreading with a corrugated edge. The buds are white, small with yellow pestles, on one bush from 5 to 12 flowers. The tops are powerful, thick and spreading. Flowering is fast.
Roots
The tubers have an original color, which became the reason for such a picturesque name of the variety. Picasso potatoes are yellow with large pink eyes that go shallow into the root crop.
The combination of two colors - pink and yellow - was characteristic of many works of the famous cubist artist Pablo Picasso.
The pulp is light yellow. Starchiness 8-13%. The potatoes are oval, large in shape.
Characteristics and features of the variety
The following properties are characteristic of the Picasso variety:
- long ripening period - 110-130 days;
- drought tolerant;
- peculiar appearance of tubers;
- low starch content;
- good consumer qualities;
- keeping 88-90%;
- high productivity;
- exactingness to top dressing the soil.
The variety has excellent immunity, it is resistant to such diseases:
- scab;
- leaf curl;
- X and Yn viruses;
- cancer;
- nematode;
- fungal diseases.
Moderately resistant to late blight, and can get Y NTN virus.
Productivity and taste
The collection from one bush of Picasso potatoes reaches 8-20 root crops. The weight of the tuber varies from 70 to 150 grams, but usually it is 125 grams. From 1 hectare, often 200-320 centners of Picasso potatoes are harvested.
By taste parameters, the variety was highly appreciated. It does not break down during cooking, suitable for frying, soups and salads. Due to its low starch content, mashed potatoes and dry potato flakes are poorly prepared from this potato.
Advantages and disadvantages of the variety
The Picasso potato variety has positive characteristics for farmers and gardeners:
- large yields;
- long shelf life;
- interesting presentation;
- easily tolerates high temperatures;
- good immunity.
Negative characteristics for consumers include:
- demanding on top dressing;
- lush tops interferes with weeding and collecting pests;
- a long ripening period makes the variety unsuitable for regions with short summers.
Features planting and growing potatoes Picasso
The variety is unpretentious, especially adapted to dry and hot climates. By following the guidelines for planting and caring for Picasso potatoes, you can significantly increase the likelihood of a good harvest.
Optimal timing and location choice
The time of planting varieties is selected depending on the climatic characteristics of the area. Picasso potatoes require the absence of frost and moist soil during planting.
The place should be well lit. The ideal soil would be chernozems.
Potatoes should not be planted where, shortly before, cucumbers and nightshade cultivated.
Landing preparation
The territory for planting Picasso potato varieties is dug up twice. The first time in the fall with the introduction of organic fertilizers, the second - in the spring; at this time, the soil is fed with mineral additives.
Tuber preparation
A month before planting, seed is selected. You should choose healthy and strong tubers. Root crops can not be germinated, but this will reduce productivity.
For the successful emergence of sprouts, potatoes are placed in a bright place with a temperature above +10 degrees Celsius.
Usually, 5–9 ocelli appear on the tuber; they grow about 2 centimeters in height. To stimulate growth, it is recommended to treat the seed with nutritious preparations.
To increase the immune characteristics of the vegetable, 2-3 days before planting, you can hold the germinated potatoes in a solution that includes boric acid and copper sulfate.
You can cut the sowing tubers of the Picasso variety, but in this case the crop will have weakened immunity.
Landing, scheme and depth of landing
The distance between the rows is 70-80 centimeters. Due to the leafy tops, a gap of at least 50 centimeters should be left between the holes in the rows. The depth of the pits is 10-15 centimeters, depending on the severity of the soil. In light sandy soils, you can lower the sprouted tubers deeper, and in hard and heavy soils, the depth of the holes should be no more than 10 centimeters.
Fertilizer application
The first top dressing occurs even when planting root crops. Dolomite flour or wood ash can be poured into the hole, but the use of humus or manure is minimal. They are able to shoot sprouts.
After fertilizers are applied nitrogen, organic or mineral type of choice. Potato should be fertilized after punching the first sprouts, with the appearance of buds and during flowering.
After the potatoes have faded, fertilizing it is no longer recommended.
Care
Watering is carried out by the drip method once a week. 4-5 liters of water are consumed per 1 bush. It slowly spills out at the root. With severe drought, an increase in the number of irrigations is allowed. After the potato fades, the amount of watering is reduced to 1 time in 2 weeks.
Loosening should be carried out the day after watering. Weeding is carried out simultaneously, or as weeds appear.
The first hilling should be done when young potato bushes reach 7 centimeters. Twice before the appearance of the buds, a hill is spread around the sprouts. The last time the hilling should be carried out at the stage of plant budding.
About when and how to grow potatoes, it is written more here.
Protection against diseases and pests
The selection of healthy tubers for planting, regular cultivation and hilling are the best prevention of many diseases of potatoes.
To protect against late blight, fungicides are used, which should be sprayed on the bushes before bud buds. If nevertheless signs of late blight have appeared, then it is recommended to use the drugs Ridomil or Oksikhom.
The Colorado potato beetle does not like Picasso potatoes. For added protection against this pest, garlic can be planted around the potato patch.
Harvesting and storage
Picasso potatoes are dug up in mid-September, preferably in dry sunny weather. At the end of August, the tops are already turning yellow, and it is desirable to cut them. Then the root crops will get stronger.
After digging the potatoes are sorted, dried for several hours, cleaned from the ground. It is best to store Picasso at a temperature of +4 degrees Celsius in bags or nets.
When storing in bulk, you need to ensure that its height does not exceed 1 meter.
Reviews
Egor Vladimirovich, farmer. Growing a good potato crop is not easy. He requires a lot of attention. And it’s very frustrating when then, instead of potatoes, peas are on the roots. Picasso decided to try out because of his claimed high yield. Do not be fooled. Collected 310 centners from one hectare. Also with the Colorado potato beetle did not have to bother.
Anna Vasilievna, summer resident. From April to October I live in the country. It’s cheaper, and I don’t interfere with children. Of course, I try to grow more home-grown vegetables. A neighbor shared Picasso tubers. Planted a little, and collected as much as I usually collect other potatoes from large areas of planting. The winter lay well, but its taste is original, not everyone likes it.
Vladislav Dmitrievich. I have my own house and a large farm. I try to keep everything at home and often try new varieties of vegetables. Picasso pleased me with a large harvest, until spring the potatoes lay wonderful. My wife did not complain about the taste, although I do not like boiled ones. But fried is good. The first time I bought seed, the second time I used the previous crop. Immunity has not decreased. And I can’t say anything about the Colorado potato beetle, pre-processed the bushes and planted everything with mint, parsley and garlic. I was very surprised if at least one of them appeared.
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Picasso potatoes are great for warm regions with long, dry summers. In such climatic conditions, the root crop will be the largest. The variety performed well in storage, and its excellent taste is noted. Potato Picasso is convenient for private farms, because it allows you to get large yields from small plots of land.
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